VerticalSleeveTalk Contest & Newsletter 05/26/2012

[Alex Brecher 10,512]

VerticalSleeveTalk.com Newsletter

Hey, Sleevesters!

It’s that time again…another couple of weeks, another newsletter! We keep you updated on the latest happenings on VerticalSleeveTalk.com, and there’s a lot happening! Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s newsletter.

• Launch of the VerticalSleeveTalk.com app for Kindle.

• Encouragement to welcome new VerticalSleeveTalk.com members in the ”Tell Your Gastric Sleeve Story” Forum.

• Tick and Track your way to success!

• Hot on the Boards: Why doesn’t everyone get the Sleeve if it’s so effective?

• First Member Spotlight: Coming Soon!

• Newsletter Challenge: summary of the previous one, and a new challenge to try.

Visit VerticalSleeveTalk.com often to stay on track with your weight loss journey and stay motivated to follow your diet and exercise program to get the success you deserve with the sleeve. Stay involved in the discussion forums, and always let us know if you have any comments, suggestions or questions. Take care of yourselves and each other.

Sincerely,

Alex Brecher

Founder

VerticalSleeveTalk.com

Kindle App Launched!

The VerticalSleeveTalk.com app for the Kindle has launched! You can download it for free from Amazon for instant use on your Android. The Kindle app joins the lineup of VerticalSleeveTalk.com apps for iPod, iPad, iPhone and Android. All of these apps are fully functional, so you can read and post to the forums, upload photos and send private messages. Don’t go anywhere without VerticalSleeveTalk.com!

Don’t forget about the contest to Celebrate the launch of our new apps. The contest to win a free iPod Touch is still on, and you can get the details in the first VerticalSleeveTalk.com newsletter. There’s still time to enter; just complete your member profile and post to the forums to become eligible. The more you post and more involved you are on VerticalSleeveTalk.com, the better your chances of winning. Your chances improve when you post to the forums, join a group, upload photos or refer a friend.

Wondering How You Can Help Out Other Sleevesters Even More?

VerticalSleeveTalk.com has thousands of members who regularly come here for information, support and advice during all stages of your weight loss journey. Some of you visit often to read the forums, but you don’t post very often. Some of you post regularly. Both kinds of members are fantastic because VerticalSleeveTalk.com is dedicated toward helping everyone who needs it. We’re a welcoming, supportive community.

We know that many of you Sleevesters go above and beyond the call of duty, and want to know how you can use VerticalSleeveTalk.com to become even more supportive of your fellow sleevesters. A few of you have asked about it, and we know a lot more of you are wondering the same thing. A great first step is to reach out to new members. Greet them when they post on the “Tell Your Gastric Sleeve Surgery Story” Forums, and answer any newbie questions to help them learn the ropes. And thanks!

Tickers and Trackers Help You Be More Successful!

What do you need to keep yourself on track, show the world who you are and remind yourself of what you’ve accomplished? Tickers and trackers, of course!

• Tickers let you mark your BMI, body fat, weight and countdown to surgery. They show your starting value, where you currently are and your goal value.

• Trackers are for recording your current body measurements.

You get to customize them by choosing what they look like. We encourage you to make your tickers and trackers public, so that they are displayed when you post in the forums. That helps you stay and inspires your fellow Sleevesters. If you’re a little shy, you can make your ticker private so that only you see it.

VerticalSleeveTalk.com Hot Topic: Why Don’t All Yo-Yo Dieters Get the Sleeve?

We all know of a few celebrities that have struggled with their weight for years. Talk show host Oprah Winfrey and actress Kirstie Alley have talked openly about their attempts to lose weight and different diets they have tried. So, OntheFence wondered why these famous role models haven’t gone for the sleeve and asked about it on the boards. That set off a great discussion about the sleeve!

Some of you pointed out that the sleeve keeps you in check constantly – you don’t have the money to hire a personal trainer or nutritionist to watch over you full-time, but the Sleeve does that. Many of you also pointed out that weight loss surgery is not magic – you have to be dedicated to making a lifestyle change with your diet and exercise if you want the sleeve to be successful. What do you think about weight loss people for famous people who struggle with obesity? Come by and post your thoughts.

Coming Soon: Member Spotlights!

We introduced them in the previous newsletter, and they’re coming soon…Keep your eyes peeled for member spotlights! Each VerticalSleeveTalk.com newsletter that comes out from now on will feature a different member. You’ll get to read all about our honorees.

We’ll be Contacting You Soon!

Don’t forget to post in the member spotlight forum to nominate yourself or another Sleevester! Don’t be shy about it. Your story can make the difference in someone’s life. Within the coming weeks, many of you will be contacted through the VerticalSleeveTalk.com PM system about becoming a spotlighted member.

Sleever Challenge! Highlights from the Last Challenge and a New Challenge to Try!

Each Sleevester Newsletter, we’ll give you a challenge. You can always find the latest news about the current challenge and check out the old ones in the Challenge Forum. The Challenge is a non-competitive way to push yourself to try something new or unusual. We encourage you to let everyone know how you did on the Challenge by posting in the Challenge Forum.

Roundup of the Previous Sleevester Challenge: Try a New Food!

In the last newsletter, we suggested trying a new food or recipe that was healthy and a good fit for your meal plan. You can check out member contributions in the Challenge Forum. Here is just a sample of the great ideas from the challenge!

• lunch – P.F. Chang’s Lettuce Wraps from M2G. The only difference between these and the real ones is that these can fit into your Sleevester diet!

• dinner – Cheddar-Stuffed Black Bean and Mushroom Burgers from LadyIvy. These tasty burgers are easy to grind so you can eat them in the mushy stage if your surgery is recent, and they’re great for any time when you’ve progressed to solid foods!

• To Celebrate Cinco de mayo – Ground Turkey Tacos from Doreykn. Ole!

Thanks to the three of you for sharing your culinary expertises! Don’t forget that you can always go back, try the old challenges and post your experience. Going public is a great way to motivate yourself, and other members can learn from your experiences!

The New Challenge: Share a NSV!

Okay, first of all, what does NSV mean? It’s short for a Non scale Victory, and it’s just what it sounds like. It’s a victory related to your weight loss journey but not related to the number on the scale. We all have disappointing weigh-ins at some point, but it’s not all about the weight. The journey is about getting healthy, loving life and having new, positive experiences. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the number on the scale that we forget to celebrate the other victories that are just as important.

This Newsletter’s challenge is to recognize a new NSV and write about it in the Challenge Forum. An NSV can be anything that makes you realize what positive steps you’ve taken for yourself. Some possible NSV’s that you recognize might be:

• Going to a baseball game and fitting into the seat.

• Buying your new summer swimsuit in a regular store.

• Keeping your cool while you eat a meal with your hypercritical mother-in-law.

Don’t be shy about sharing your NSV on the Challenge Forum. You can help other Sleevesters learn to recognize their own NSVs and take pride in them!

So that’s about it for this week’s newsletter, but there’s never a dull moment at VerticalSleeveTalk.com! Come by and post often, and be sure to share your opinions, advice and feedback. See you on the boards!

Sincerely,

Alex

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